Alex McLeish has defended his tactics despite watching Scotland crash to a miserable 2-1 Nations League defeat in Israel.

Scotland were over-run and outplayed in the heat in Haifa in a match which saw the home team have 24 attempts at goal to the Scots' six.

The side ranked 93rd in the world gave McLeish 's side - reduced to 10 men when John Souttar was sent off - the runaround although Scotland led 1-0 at half time thanks to Charlie Mulgrew's penalty.

The result and performance undoes much of the momentum built up in last month's opening 2-0 victory over Albania.

But, asked why the shape that worked against Albania didn't work this evening, McLeish said: "It did work to a certain degree. We were very comfortable in the first half.

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"The second half we went to a four at the back after the sending off. They had a lot of counter attacks on us. They sat deeper and we had a few chances.

"I know if I was playing four and Kieran Tierney or Andy Robertson wasn't playing then you'd be looking for another system. I know how it works."

McLeish went on: "It was a game of two halves really. We started really well, I thought we kept possession well and had good movement going forward, We asked the guys to get forward as much as possible.

Despair for Scotland as they go behind (Image: PA)

"They had a little spell, their number eight was causing us little problems and we managed to nullify that before half time.

"We spoke at half time about starting fast and not losing anything early.

"Unfortunately we lost a soft goal and we lost John Souttar as well which was a double blow. But more so Charlie Mulgrew at half time who was feeling bad with a muscle strain.

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Asked if he thought the red card was harsh McLeish claimed he was about to sub the Hearts defender just before he fouled Moanes Dabbur to earn a second yellow card - with Scott McKenna waiting to come on. McKenna, however, was already on the park having replaced injured Mulgrew at half time.

McLeish said: "I thought the red card was very soft. Referee about 60 yards away, he's not up with play. Maybe he has something in his ear. Maybe John will look and think he should have played it a bit quicker.

"We were ready to take John Souttar off there. It was really ill timing for us because we had McKenna ready to go on. It was just about getting the play stopped. Unfortunately the play stopped for them and a red card for John.

Souttar is shown a red card (Image: PA Wire)

"It's never easy playing with 10 against 11. Israel had one or two players on good form and deserved it on the night.

"We had a great performance against Albania. Now we have to pick it up. It's as simple as that.

"We are going to get a bit of stick about this and it's up to us to bounce back.

"We will look to win both games to qualify."

Charlie Mulgrew opens the scoring for Scotland (Image: SNS)

Asked is tonight was a reality check for the side, McLeish added: "Did we ever say we were at a level where we should be qualifying for major tournaments?

"We are trying to build towards a team that can win consitently or get points cosistently and we are still not at that level.

"None of us thought that that was a right bad team (Israel). They have good players there.

"Dabbur fooled the referee in both the challenges that led to John Souttar's bookings. "